Rep. Sibilia: May 13th

I’d like to invite you to participate in an online call with me tomorrow evening. For more then a month I have been hosting a 7 am coffee call on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a variety of folks have attended to ask questions, share information, or just say hello. In an effort to make this more accessible to a larger group, on Wednesday’s, starting tomorrow May 13th, I will host this at 5:30 pm. Information on how to connect is below.

click the image to get the pattern

You will see notice further on in this letter that the governor will be extending the State of Emergency that was due to extend on Friday. He is expected to make a number of announcements related to modifications to the order should be anticipated regularly. Retail shops will begin gradual opening Monday May 18th. The Governor is requiring that all staff wear a mask to protect customers. Shoppers have been requested to wear masks, but are not yet required by the Executive Orders to do so. Retail shops can require shoppers to wear masks and can deny service to those who choose not to. Full and part time Vermonters and visitors should anticipate they will likely need a mask to go back into their favorite retail locations.

Here is another plea to take the census. The forms were mailed, but if you get your mail at a Post Office box, you will not receive it as the Census will only mail to physical addresses. In that case you can go to https://2020census.gov/ put in information, and do your census right on line. Why does this matter? Funding for schools, roads, healthcare. And yes, there is also a political reason. Our country and state allocate representatives of the people to government based on population. After the census is done, a committee in Vermont will look at where the population has grown and where it has shrunk. In places that it has grown, more representatives will be added. In places where population has shrunk, representatives could be taken away. This is to try and equalize how many citizens each legislator represents. If your town or county has a low response to the census, the odds increase that your town or district or county will lose representation.

Hopefully we have seen the last of the snow – I’m looking forward to getting out and away from my desk and doing yard work this weekend. I hope to “see” some of you tomorrow at 5:30 pm!

Emergency Order Extension Announcement

On Friday, May 15, Governor Phil Scott will announce an extension of the State of Emergency and modifications to the Stay Home, Stay Safe Executive Order. Adjustments to the order and additional guidance in the weeks ahead will safely restart Vermont’s economy through a phased approach, that modifies operations to reduce risk. As from the beginning of this emergency, a close eye will be kept on the data in Vermont, regionally, and around the country.

This phased restart for the lodging industry will mean all lodging properties (including hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, inns, short term rentals, and all public and private camping facilities and RV parks) must remain closed per existing orders (including the relevant exemptions) and should cancel reservations between May 15, 2020 and May 22, 2020.

Effective May 22, the Governor hopes, subject to additional public health data and input from the Department of Health, to authorize modified lodging operations with specific health and safety requirements, and occupancy/capacity limits, for the purpose of serving Vermont residents and non-residents who can verify they have met the 14-day quarantine requirement. Please note, however, that this is subject to change based on the data and assessment of the Department of Health.

Further, all reservations from out of state guests who cannot meet the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirement must be cancelled through June 15, 2020. The Agency of Commerce and Community Development also advises that reservations for stays after June 15 may still need to be cancelled or restricted pending any additional guidance or future Executive Orders.

Additional guidance will be forthcoming on Friday, including details on what the first phase of reopening lodging will look like. Again, you can expect mandatory health and safety regulations, occupancy/capacity limits, and reduced ability to book out of state guests who have not quarantined for 14 days. Current guidance for lodging and accommodations as well as campgrounds, RV parks, and seasonal resorts remains in effect at this time.

We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time as we work to protect the health and safety of our state while slowly reopening the economy. We realize the tremendous burden this pandemic has caused you and your business. If the data continues to move in the right direction, Friday should be a first step in getting our world-class lodging sector up and running again.

From the New York Times: How Pandemics End An infectious outbreak can conclude in more ways than one, historians say. But for whom does it end, and who gets to decide?

Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.Upper Valley Aquatic Center, 100 Arboretum Ln, White River Jct. VT How:Register here! Registration is required.The Health Department is offering free and fast COVID-19 testing for health care workers, first responders, and child care providers serving essential workers on the dates listed above. This clinic is part of the State of Vermont’s efforts to ramp up testing and prevent the spread of COVID-19. The test will tell you if you have a current infection. It is not a serology/antibody test, which means it will not tell you if you were infected in the past.

Planning Considerations for ReconstitutionThursday, May 14, 2020 from 12 PM – 1 PM ETPlease join the Region II National Preparedness Division for a webinar to learn about best practices for the reconstitution of operations to enable organizations to return to normal, or new normal after an incident. FEMA National Continuity Programs can help you and your organization make informed decisions on how to plan for and return to operations once it is safe to do so. This info-sharing event will include what factors to consider and provide ideas on how to accomplish bringing resources back to the workplace while preserving the integrity of your essential functions. Guest speaker Jose R. Marchand-Parnell, will provide guidance and best practices as it relates to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This webinar will be delivered entirely in Spanish. Link to register: https://icpd.adobeconnect.com/r2planning4reconstitutionspanish/event/registration.html

Helping HelpersTuesday, May 19, 2020 from 6 PM – 7:30 PM ETPlease join the FEMA Region II National Preparedness Division for a webinar designed to help strengthen responder resilience.Times of crisis can be frightening, life-altering and trying, but they can also bring out the best in people. Disaster plans primarily focus on how to help crisis survivors, but who’s helping the helpers? The police, first responders and CERTs who help people get back on their feet after a disaster need help too.Members from FEI Workforce, a company with a long history in enhancing workforce resiliency, will offer insights on how to support your community. Link to register: https://icpd.adobeconnect.com/r2certhelpers/event/registration.html

I attended the hearing on S.169 – a Senate bill proposing 24 hour waiting periods for handguns. Several folks have asked how I plan to vote on the bill which yet to emerge from House Judiciary. If a bill comes out of House Judiciary, I will carefully consider what is proposed. Thank you to all who took the time to come and testify.